The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-03-31
in April. It viii arnhodv the resnlts {

the study OF an immense mass OF
data upon the Charleston earthquake.
be does not propose going beyond facts
! as TO native origin and influence of the
neutrality-suspicious., but he believes that
the material in hand, when fully
the mass of human knowledge regard
| ing the disturbances, the rate Of
| motion of the earth, waves and the
| kindred points of scientific interest and
| that 1t will be especially valuable in
| suggestions for the observation and
| study of future phenomena. The ad-
vance made in this respect to knowi-
edge OF the earthquake phenomena
may be illustrated by a single point.
| of the earthquakes of his
tory, varies from 800 to 800
metres per second. The data upon the
| Charleston disturbance proves con-
clusiyely that its earth waves travelled
between 1000 to 5000 metres second
while French journals at hand con-
tanning observations upoE the Rivera
shocks give rates at almost as high. 1t
Is not to be supposed that modern
earthquakes are more energetic than
| their predecessors, but it is certain that
modern methods and opportunities give
safer results.
The Post Master General has issued
Division Superintendent and Inspec-
tors, and other officials and employees
OF the railway mail service. The at
tentlon OF the department. has been in
vited by the officers of many Sailroad
companies to the Interstate Commerce
| act with inquiry as to how far those
provisions, which they have deemed re-
strictive of free trayel, affects persons
or employees of the postal service. The
On
contained expressions of willing
ness to continue the facilities hereto
fore afforded. unless such a course
be in contravention of the law.
In order to the satisfactory exposition
OF the point the opinion of the Attorney
General was solicited whether there be
anything in the act which prohibits the
practices heretofore prevailing.
The Attorney Generals opinion is that
the Interstate act does not affect the
postal service, but is in regulation of
commerce only and concludes as fol-
lows: As the act does not include the
mail service in its provisions, none of
the lawful, cuStomal and necessary
instrumentalities by which that service
is conducted are subjected to the law.
Among the lawful, customary and nee
essary instrumentalities for the efficient
CONSISTENT and successful conduct of the |
service, the POstoffice Department is |
authorized by law to send officers,
agents and clerks of the Government to
take charge of, protect and distribute |
the mails, and to search for and invest |
igate errors, frauds and crimes relating |
to them. Persons thus employed when
in the line of duty or when in pursuance |
thereof, going Or returning from their |
places of residence, while in the per-
Torrance of the service or to or from |
their assigned line of duty in the ordi- |
nary and customary course of admins |
tratlon to the service. should be regard |
ed as in the performance official labor |
and unaffected by the provisions.
This authoritative interpreta-
ton relieves all railroad COM
panies employed in carrying the
mails from any risk of violation of any
statute by the continuance of the
courteous methods of intercourse and
business heretofore prevailing between
the department and railroad compa-
MES. 1t should, perhaps, be added
by way of information, that the trans
portation given to inspectors upon the
commission of the department and to
postal clerks in the line of their duty
is not free STavgf, but by the law and /
constitutes part of the SER
vice paid for in the mileage cOmpensa-
ton to railroad companies. Inspectors
and postal clerks who may be required
by any mail contractor to pay fare
when travelling on official duty will
take receipt for the same and report
the facts to the department, that the
amount may be deducted from the car
riers' compensation according to long
established usages.
CABINET MEETING.
There was full attendance at the
cabinet meeting to-day. The Treasury
Department was represented by Gen
eral Fairchild.